I think skype telling me "Take a Deep Breath" has significantly reduced my pre-departure stress. From skyping with my cousin in South Korea (Big D, here's your shout-out) to my friends already studying abroad to my informal portuguese teachers, I've been using the application a lot. I like skype. And even when the connection is bad, I think to myself: "since when do I get something for nothing?" They must be Christians to make skype free (Well, sorta. I did just re-load my calling minutes. Cha-ching.)